EXCHANGE VISITS STRENGTHEN WOMEN’S VOICES AND CAPACITIES

On June 12 & 13, 2014, women from 17 different districts of Tajikistan met at an exchange visit for participants in the DFID-funded Women’s Wealth and Influence (WW&I) project. Women travelled to Tursunzoda and Shakhrinav Districts from Vakhsh, Jomi, Qumsangir, Khuroson, Rumi, Jilikul, Panj, Khovaling, Temurmalik, Baljuvon, Shuroobod, Hamadoni, Vose, Dangara, Turzonzoda, Rudaki and Shakrinav Districts.

The women first met at Tursunzoda District to share their experiences of the project from starting up businesses to the support these groups provide to each other, as well as the impact of the project on their lives and the sense of pride with which women express their achievements. Some of the women had never left their area before but they soon found that they had more in common with the other women than they could have imagined.

WW&I aims to increase women’s wealth and influence within their families and communities through supporting rural women to start self-directed women’s groups that save money, provide support to members and help women realise their decision-making abilities.

Exchange visits between groups from different areas inspire women and help them realise that they are part of a huge network of women’s groups, all dedicated to improving the lives of their own communities.

Photo 1. Women from 17 different districts met at Tursunzoda to share their experiences of the project.

The women expressed their thanks for the organisation of the exchange visit. “We’re very thankful for this exchange visit. We had never been to these beautiful areas before. Meeting with other women has helped increase the vision of our groups,” said the women with a smile. The women are very hospitable and have been able to teach each other new skills in embroidery and sewing, small scale sheep rearing, reciting poems, growing cherry trees and planting decorative flowers and bushes.

Gulsara Hochaeva, a member of the group Zulfiya from Shakrinav District, said, “Through this exchange visit, Save the Children have helped us see the hard work of women across Tajikistan. Everywhere, these women are the leaders of their family and community. Now we can work together as a movement of women to fight for our own development.”

Women celebrated their success and the opportunity to make new friends with music and dancing. In doing so, the strength of grassroots women’s groups across Tajikistan will be increased, as women realise more and more what power and influence they can have if they act together.